Soprano Karine Boucher, who sang “E pur cosi in un giorno… Piangerò la sorte mia” from Giulio Cesare by Handel was not only this year’s first place winner at the Ensemble Studio Competition and inaugural Centre Stage Gala, but also the audience choice winner. This means that Ms. Boucher won not only the $5,000 grand prize, but also an additional $1,500 (Iain MacNeil and Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure were second ($1,500) and first runners-up respectively ($3,000)). She, along with eight other singers, performed before an audience of some 600 opera lovers at an event at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on November 26. The event was hosted by singer and songwriter, Rufus Wainwright, who entertained the audience with three numbers – including one from his opera, Prima Donna, while the jury deliberated on the winner. Prior to the event, there was a cocktail party featuring a delicious charcuterie table from Cheese Boutique and following the performance, select attendees had the opportunity to attend a delicious dinner provided by acclaimed chef David Lee of Nota Bene.
Image credits: Cocktail photos by author; Contestant photos by Michael Cooper
